2015 Peugeot 308 GTi 270 review

Peugeot desperately wants to be taken seriously as a hot hatch maker again; the brand new 308 GTi signals its ambition. Peugeot seems intent on keeping its performance division busy. Having provided the RCZ along with 208 GTi with more zing, the Peugeot Sport team (more famously responsible for turning out the firm’s race along with rally cars) was given a year to turn the worthy nevertheless dull 308 through National Trust badge wearer to fire-breathing GTi flagship.This particular reported back inside the summer (which will be when we drove the pre-production car) with two versions: the entry-level 250, along with the more powerful 270. Both are powered by Peugeot’s go-to petrol engine, the 1.6-litre THP, with only some ECU tweaks necessary for the 20bhp discrepancy (torque remains steady at 243lb ft).Beyond the output, the chief difference between the 250 along with the headliner will be the deployment of a mechanical Torsen limited-slip differential – of the same vintage as the one fitted to both of Peugeot Sport’s additional projects.The cheaper design goes without along with gets smaller 18in wheels with slightly less sticky rubber as standard, nevertheless otherwise the six-speed manual gearbox along with chassis revisions are the same. These include a serious sounding amount of toughening, with the team claiming the rear torsion bar will be fully 100 per cent stiffer than previously.Predictably the GTi sits 11mm lower than the warmed-up GT on wider tracks, along with has had its dampers along with front hydraulic bump stops recalibrated. Peugeot Sport also remapped the 308’s electric power steering, made the traction control switchable along with fitted broader 380mm disc brakes at the front.The 270 we tested gets 19in wheels, nevertheless only succumbs to a reasonably subtle splatter of Centeng kit; the bumper, grille, diffuser along with exhaust being swapped out for only mildly sportier alternatives. by via Autocar RSS Feed